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Agricultural and Food Policy Research Centers

To make competitive grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, eligible policy research centers to conduct research and education programs that are objective, operationally independent, and external to the Federal Government and that concern the effect of public policies and trade agreements

Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.

Program Accomplishments

Not Applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funding may be used for disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and education concerning policy research activities consistent with this section, including activities that- (1) quantify the implications of public policies and regulations; (2) develop theoretical and research methods; (3) collect, analyze, and disseminate data for policymakers, analysts, and individuals; and (4) develop programs to train analysts.

Funds must only be used for allowable costs necessary to conduct approved research and education objectives.

See the Notice of Funding Opportunity and 2 C.F.R.

Part 200 for additional information.

Funds shall not be used for the construction of a new building or facility or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building or facility (including site grading and improvement, and architect fees).

Funds shall not be used for any purposes other than those approved in the grant award documents.

Applications may be submitted by colleges and universities, state agricultural experiment stations, or other public research institutions or organizations that have a history of providing (1) unbiased, nonpartisan economic analysis to Congress on the farm and agricultural sectors (including commodities, livestock, dairy, and specialty crops), the environment, rural families, households, and economies, and consumers, food, and nutrition; or (2) objective, scientific information to Federal agencies and the public to support and enhance efficient, accurate implementation of Federal drought preparedness and drought response programs, including inter agency thresholds used to determine eligibility for mitigation or emergency assistance.

Applications received from ineligible applicants will not be reviewed or considered for funding.

Additional details on eligibility requirements will be available each year on the www.grants.gov website when each fiscal year s Notice of Funding Opportunity is announced.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Not applicable.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants must provide evidence of legal capacity, Additional details will be provided in an annual Notice of Funding Opportunity. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, &quot;Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.&quot; An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Applicants for competitive grants must provide the information identified in the annual Notice of Funding Opportunity. This information may include, but is not limited to, the SF-424, evidence of legal capacity, a proposed work plan and budget, and a narrative describing how the proposed project meets the evaluation criteria. Applicants for cooperative agreements must provide an SF-424, evidence of legal capacity, a proposed work plan and budget, and a description of how the proposed project meets eligibility requirements.

Award Procedures

All applications that meet the published deadline for submission will be screened for completeness and eligibility, as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Grants will be awarded through a competitive process. Cooperative agreements will be awarded at the discretion of the Agency.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Agricultural Act of 2014, Public Law 113-79, 7 U.S.C 3155.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 30 to 90 days, but no later than Congress-mandated deadline for obligation.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

In general, the term of a competitive grant under this program may not exceed one (1) year. Under exceptional circumstances, and with approval of the Agency, an extension of not more than one (1) year may be granted.

Awards are made once per year. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are released on a monthly basis.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Progress reports are not applicable.

Recipients must provide a financial report quarterly while the project is in process, with a final financial and performance report due within 90 days after the project is completed.

Additionally, unless exempt, all recipients must comply with the reporting requirements at 2 CFR 170.

Details about reporting requirements are in the award document.

Recipients must provide a performance activity report quarterly while the project is in process, with a final financial and performance report due within 90 days after the project is completed.

Additionally, unless exempt, all recipients must comply with the reporting requirements at 2 CFR 170.

Details about reporting requirements are in the award document.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), &quot;Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations,&quot; nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Recipients must comply with the audit requirements in 2 C.F.R. Part 200 subpart F.

Records

Recipients must comply with the record-keeping requirements in 2 C.F.R. § 200.333-.337.

The criteria for selecting proposals are detailed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Criteria may include, but are not limited to, the applicant s experience performing the work for which funds are requested, the reasonableness of the budget, and past performance using funding awarded through this program.